Here is my first draft of the World Cities map. My goal for this map is to create a map of the world that is of standard size (instead of the very large World 2.1). I know that we cannot create a map of the world countries that is too similar to the old classic map, so I have decided to highlight some of the most important cities from different countries around the world.

Because I am using cities instead of countries, all connections will be shown directly (instead of showing zone borders). Each region will be made of zones connected by lines, similar to Midkermia. Please ignore the current aesthetics of the shadows and lines, I understand it does not look very good. I intend to curve the lines to make all connections more aesthetically pleasing once the zones are finalized. Army shadows probably will not be used in the final version, but are shown here for simplicity.

Comments on the region images, colors, title, and bonus labels are welcome.

Click image to enlarge.

42 countries, 6 continents

No unique gameplay items, this map will be exceptionally "standard".

Very traditional gameplay in terms of the continent size, and number of connections between territories

Last edited by sully800 on Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.

This looks like the kind of classical map ( ) this site lacks suprisingly. All of those people who play World 2.1 and nothing else may like this.

I can only suggest that you try and de-cram this map a bit; a couple of thousand armies in Europe would quickly run each other other, whereas Russia is eerily empty. I've seen several cartographers state that Geogaphy must be exagerrated in the name of a fun map.

Europe definitely needs to be decompressed, and NAmerica if possible. I think switching Moskva to Europe and removing Rome in favor of a Russian territory would help tremendously, but I hate to see Rome disappear.

Nitpicking about cities is fine at this stage, its one of the reasons I've left the map as a stick diagram. I picked some of the most populous cities from diverse geography within each bonus region, but I know there may be better choices out there that I could have missed.

I also tried not to overload cities from one country if there was a choice. Shanghai is too close to Hong Kong and Beijing to justify another Chinese city, so I picked Astana instead. Tehran is another territory that I would be fine with changing, along with most of Africa and S America if there is good reason. I think NAmerica and Europe are the best developed because I am most familiar with those areas and they are the most densely packed with famous cities.

Yeah I noticed too late that I put Quebec instead of Montreal and that I listed Honolulu as Hawaii I will definitely update both of those.

Quezon City is much bigger than Manila, and it is the former capital. However Manila is the current capital and the second largest Phillipine city (probably more famous) so thats a fine change if others agree.

I picked Edmonton based on its location primarily, but I'd argue its as famous as Calgary. Lots of people know Edmonton because of the Mall, but I have never been there myself.

Buenos Aires vs Brasilia was another debate, but I think you may be right here. Buenos Aires is better known despite Brasilia being the capital.

Berlin or Prague I agree on as well, instead of Budapest. Leaning toward Berlin right now.

put a connection from rio de jenero..sry about spelling.... to capetown

Doing that would allow easier movement across the map, but it would connect the two smallest continents. If that happens they would both become +3 bonus regions, and I prefer the traditional gameplay of having 2 small, easy to defend regions.

i cant really tell which bonus hawaii is a part of

Honolulu (formerly Hawaii) will belong to North America. In the next addition I will color the names of each city to match the continent they belong to, so differentiation shouldn't be a problem. I know its hard to read most of the NAmerica cities right now because its blue on blue, but that will change to make everything more legible.

I just had an interesting thought. Most of the cities that have previously been made into maps are currently included in my map (which makes sense because notable cities will commonly become maps over smaller cities). I could adjust some of the current territories to match existing maps (LA becomes San Fran, Atlanta becomes Charleston, etc) and then have a 42 map pack eventually

have u run this one past andy already? i ask because this is a map of the world, with geographical continent bonuses and 42 areas where u can place armies. when classic shapes and classic art were introduced, great care was taken for the new maps not to be direct representations of a world map. if nothing has changed since that time, then world cities seems to fall foul of this principle.

I think instead of Denver, Las Vegas would be a more interesting city to include. It's certainly more of a "world city" than Denver is.

Casablanca should also be included for sure.

Instead of Athens, Istanbul. And where's Moscow?

All of Asia is too empty really. Perhaps include Seoul and/or Pyongyang?

Instead of Quezon City, perhaps the only city on the map I'd never heard of, maybe include Jakarta?

I love the idea, sorry to throw so many cities out there. Of all these suggestions, I feel most strongly about replacing Denver with Las Vegas. Las Vegas is distinct, Denver is just another midwestern city.

SultanOfSurreal wrote:I think instead of Denver, Las Vegas would be a more interesting city to include. It's certainly more of a "world city" than Denver is.

Casablanca should also be included for sure.

Instead of Athens, Istanbul. And where's Moscow?

All of Asia is too empty really. Perhaps include Seoul and/or Pyongyang?

Instead of Quezon City, perhaps the only city on the map I'd never heard of, maybe include Jakarta?

I love the idea, sorry to throw so many cities out there. Of all these suggestions, I feel most strongly about replacing Denver with Las Vegas. Las Vegas is distinct, Denver is just another midwestern city.

Las Vegas is a good idea, and close enough to Denver that it should work. I wouldn't say Denver is just another city, but I agree Las Vegas is more major.

Moscow will be coming to Europe as I shift the Eurasia border over, I guess at the elimination of Rome which is currently too crowded.

Seoul was on my list but the area is too tight already. I'm thinking of sticking with Russian territories since that is the empty part.

Jakarta is also too close to Singapore, which is why I wanted a territory from the Philippines but it can be switched to Manila.

Ian:I have not spoken with Andy about this map. I understand the concern about copyright issues, but this map is very different than the Classic map was. All original artwork is the most noticeable chance, but also all places for armies are cities and not countries which makes it inherently unique IMO. The layout by its very nature will become original because it is based on existing cities. If I am asked to stop development I will understand, though I think it will be a shame! (Also, I would not say that "great care" was taken with Classic Shapes or Classic Art. Those maps were hack jobs and the fact that they remain on the site in their current state is an atrocity )